Suspect in teen's slaying arrested

Thursday

Sep 5, 2013 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - Authorities returned an accused killer to Stockton early Wednesday after a four-day manhunt led them to the Bay Area, bringing a measure of peace to the parents of a teenager who was gunned down Friday night.

Jason Anderson

STOCKTON - Authorities returned an accused killer to Stockton early Wednesday after a four-day manhunt led them to the Bay Area, bringing a measure of peace to the parents of a teenager who was gunned down Friday night.

Members of a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force arrested 19-year-old Edgar Frayre on suspicion of homicide Tuesday night in San Jose after detectives in Stockton learned he had left town, authorities said. Police believe Frayre fired the shot that killed 16-year-old Kevric Beverly Jr., a senior at one.Ethics school in Stockton who enjoyed music and basketball, relatives said.

"My son can be laid to rest, and he can go peacefully now," said Chenequa Charlo, the victim's mother. "We don't have to have this hanging over our heads, not knowing who did it or why they did it. We still don't know exactly why it happened, but at least we know the person who did this won't do it to somebody else's kids."

Kevric Beverly Sr., the victim's father, said he learned of the arrest when a homicide detective from the Stockton Police Department called him shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday. Frayre was transported back to Stockton and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"It's a relief knowing they caught him, but it doesn't bring our son back," Beverly said.

Frayre is being held without bail and will make his first appearance in San Joaquin County Superior Court at 1:30 p.m. today, authorities said. The victim's parents said they will be in the courtroom when Frayre is arraigned.

"You want to be there for your child, and you want to know for sure that (Frayre) is behind bars," Beverly said. "We know he's locked up, but I have to see this guy. I have to see him. I really have to see him, and I really hope I can make eye contact with him, just like he made eye contact with my son. I want to look him dead in his eyes."

Charlo expressed similar sentiments during an emotional 40-minute interview at her apartment Wednesday, saying she wants to see her son's killer convicted.

"I want to be there to support my son because he's not there," Charlo said. "He can't be there to speak for himself, so we're going to be there to make sure justice is served and this person goes to jail for killing him."

According to police and witnesses, Frayre shot Kevric Beverly Jr. on Friday night following a verbal dispute between two groups of people at a north Stockton apartment complex.

Residents told both families there were a number of witnesses to the shooting, including Frayre's 5-year-old brother, who had nightmares after the shooting occurred, relatives said. Charlo said Frayre "messed up a lot of lives," adding that she feels "empty" and "lost" without her only child.

"It'll be hard coming home every day knowing he's not going to be here," she said.

Police posted a Facebook announcement Saturday identifying Frayre as the shooting suspect. Someone who logged into Frayre's Facebook account clicked the "like" button on the post before the account was deactivated over the weekend. Authorities said Frayre was apprehended after police received a tip that he had fled to San Jose.

"Since last Friday night, our homicide detectives, officers and task force members were on the hunt tracking down a ruthless killer," said Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Police Department. "We were able to arrest Edgar quickly because of good police work and community involvement."

The victim's parents expressed gratitude to law enforcement officials for apprehending Frayre so quickly. Beverly said he might be able to forgive his son's killer someday, but not yet.

"Will I forgive him? I know I'm supposed to. I guess that's the right thing to do, but I don't know how you do that," Beverly said. "I guess the only thing that can give you the will to forgive someone for something like that is to continue to pray. It will take plenty of prayer for me to forgive him for what he did, because I can't do it on my own, and I can't say that I ever will."